1. Was insulin shock therapy a viable clinical treatment?
Discovered in 1922, the insulin shock therapy was not necessarily a viable treatment, yet it was the only treatment that was available for schizophrenia during that time. The treatment was dangerous and its morality rate was very low, from 1~10%. The shock therapy was truly a dangerous treatment with a high risk of death, however it did have some successes in stopping the hallucinations and calming the patient to a less aggressive state.
2. Was John Nash an unusual case, or do you think that many schizophrenic patients can be taught to function in society without medication?
I think John Nash was an unusual case to have overcome schizophrenia without medication. Without a definite strong will to fit back into society and to reject the hallucinations within, John Nash would have not been able to function normally. Also, John Nash had many supporters, including his family and his colleagues, who followed him and encouraged his return to society. However I do believe that schizophrenia may be treated without any medication, because the human's brain always tries to go back to the 'normal' state.
3. What are the dangers and/or advantages of this type of treatment (re: insulin shock therapy)?
Being the only treatment available for schizophrenia at the time, patients requested for the therapy while knowing the danger that would follow. With the therapy, some people were cured as their hallucinations went away or at least decreased. However, there was a great risk that the patients had to take as well. The dangers of the insulin shock theraly included memory loss or the loss of sense. Extreme dangers could weigh up to severe brain damage or even death.
4. What is the difference between the treatment of schizophrenia in 1960-1970 and today?
During the years, there has been drastic improvements in finding cures for mental illnesses. The Insulin Shock Therapy is no longer used in most countries, and antipsychotic drugs are prescribed to the patient instead. The drugs can control the symptoms of schizophrenia, but they do not cure it.
5. What are the various types of schizophrenia? Which would you consider the worst case to have? The least worst? Explain why for each.
There are four main types of schizophernia, including paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, and residual. I would consider disorganized subtype to be the least worst because this type effects only fail to show the right emotional response to situations and at times their speech cannot be understood by others, often being incomprehensible due to excessive disorganization in thinking. One will be able to function within society. I would consider the worst type to be catatonic. Catatonic subtype is very dangerous to the patient because it directly effects the body. One loses his mobil abilities and there is a risk of hurting oneself because the body does not move when needed.
6. What treatments are being pioneered today for schizophrenia?
As of now, there isn't a cure for schizophrenia, only a control drug. The practice of Insulin Shock Threapy has been banned in most countries, and there are no present treatments for mental illnesses.I believe that the focus for now is to make the illness more acceptable to allow these patients back into society.
Discovered in 1922, the insulin shock therapy was not necessarily a viable treatment, yet it was the only treatment that was available for schizophrenia during that time. The treatment was dangerous and its morality rate was very low, from 1~10%. The shock therapy was truly a dangerous treatment with a high risk of death, however it did have some successes in stopping the hallucinations and calming the patient to a less aggressive state.
2. Was John Nash an unusual case, or do you think that many schizophrenic patients can be taught to function in society without medication?
I think John Nash was an unusual case to have overcome schizophrenia without medication. Without a definite strong will to fit back into society and to reject the hallucinations within, John Nash would have not been able to function normally. Also, John Nash had many supporters, including his family and his colleagues, who followed him and encouraged his return to society. However I do believe that schizophrenia may be treated without any medication, because the human's brain always tries to go back to the 'normal' state.
3. What are the dangers and/or advantages of this type of treatment (re: insulin shock therapy)?
Being the only treatment available for schizophrenia at the time, patients requested for the therapy while knowing the danger that would follow. With the therapy, some people were cured as their hallucinations went away or at least decreased. However, there was a great risk that the patients had to take as well. The dangers of the insulin shock theraly included memory loss or the loss of sense. Extreme dangers could weigh up to severe brain damage or even death.
4. What is the difference between the treatment of schizophrenia in 1960-1970 and today?
During the years, there has been drastic improvements in finding cures for mental illnesses. The Insulin Shock Therapy is no longer used in most countries, and antipsychotic drugs are prescribed to the patient instead. The drugs can control the symptoms of schizophrenia, but they do not cure it.
5. What are the various types of schizophrenia? Which would you consider the worst case to have? The least worst? Explain why for each.
There are four main types of schizophernia, including paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, and residual. I would consider disorganized subtype to be the least worst because this type effects only fail to show the right emotional response to situations and at times their speech cannot be understood by others, often being incomprehensible due to excessive disorganization in thinking. One will be able to function within society. I would consider the worst type to be catatonic. Catatonic subtype is very dangerous to the patient because it directly effects the body. One loses his mobil abilities and there is a risk of hurting oneself because the body does not move when needed.
6. What treatments are being pioneered today for schizophrenia?
As of now, there isn't a cure for schizophrenia, only a control drug. The practice of Insulin Shock Threapy has been banned in most countries, and there are no present treatments for mental illnesses.I believe that the focus for now is to make the illness more acceptable to allow these patients back into society.